What i dont understand is who gave them the right to fine you if you were late fir registration? I can understand if it always happens but.once? Sounds like parking fines. Awful. I would be thinking about changing schools......

So do I (even if that was a rather veiled threat) but your son being bullied has absolutely nothing to do with the schools letter.

When you kept your son home did they prosecute you - because they were perfectly within their rights to unless they authorised the absence.

But they are hardly going to write a letter saying - parents can be prosecuted for unauthorised absence - unless your child is being bullied! Because they can't possibly list all the extenuating circumstances, and because it would only give parents and kids more opportunity to miss school.

I'm truly sorry if your son was bullied - but this letter has nothing whatsoever to do with that.

I think schools are just playin daft at the moment as Ive just had a text message from my kids school sayin that we r not to mention, our kids, other ppls kids, the school or reschool on FB, last time i checked i was my child mother and if i want to share them on FB i will!!!
Another theyve done is changed the way kids come out of school due to 1 incident, which partly i get but tbh they r now gettin kids to walk along a busy main road instead of through the school grounds which is far more dangerous, all the incident called for was for parents and children to be notified and maybe 1 teacher to stand on duty for the time the kids are coming out!

Sorry maybe I'm being dim but the letter is openly threatening. It talks about unauthorised absences, in Ava's particular case for "alleged bullying"... threatening a fine and if there is a refusal to pay (which I have to say that if I kept my child off for bullying because it was still occurring, I would NOT pay) then a court appearance and even possible imprisonment!!! how is that not threatening?

Sorry maybe I'm being dim but the letter is openly threatening. It talks about unauthorised absences, in Ava's particular case for "alleged bullying"... threatening a fine and if there is a refusal to pay (which I have to say that if I kept my child off for bullying because it was still occurring, I would NOT pay) then a court appearance and even possible imprisonment!!! how is that not threatening?

that's like saying the disclaimer on your mortgage statement "failure to keep up with your payments may result in losing your home" is a threat
or the signs saying "maximum penalty for dropping litte £2000" is a threat
if you don't intend to break the rules it doesn't matter

And as I stated. I would NOT send my child into school if there was a serious bullying problem that was not being rectified by said school. But then I would fight that to my last breath!

But I Belleville if there was a serious bullying problem the school would try to resolve it and if their hands were tied would not prosecute - if they did then of course you refuse to pay and go to court stand your ground - but if you remove a child from school you would need to demonstrate your were educating in another way

None of that changes that the letter is only outlining the law so parents can't say they didn't know. I don't see it as threatening and I wouldn't take it personally.

that's like saying the disclaimer on your mortgage statement "failure to keep up with your payments may result in losing your home" is a threat
or the signs saying "maximum penalty for dropping litte £2000" is a threat
if you don't intend to break the rules it doesn't matter

and no I don't work in education

We are not talking about bricks and mortar or rubbish we are talking about the most precious possessions in our lives our children! Get a grip!

This is what our schools have come to. Threatening letters to parents trying to scare them into forcing their children to school regardless of whether they are terrified due to bullying!

They have already banned the kids from playing in the snow and now handstands due to Heath and safely.

Schools are robbing our children of a childhood.

The combination of being affronted that children aren't playing enough, and the keeping them out of school, does make it read like they are not getting home educated but rather they are just playing at home.

Are the children being educated at home or not? If so, keep records, inform the school. Make plans for their sitting examinations(whenever that maybe). The letter then will not apply to you.

The combination of being affronted that children aren't playing enough, and the keeping them out of school, does make it read like they are not getting home educated but rather they are just playing at home.

Are the children being educated at home or not? If so, keep records, inform the school. Make plans for their sitting examinations(whenever that maybe). The letter then will not apply to you.

Im sorry that didnt make sense to me.

My Home Education isnt the discussion here, but rather the letter that came home from the school were ONE of my children atttends.

Slightly off topic but when it snowed earlier this year, we got a text message saying how much fun the children had had playing in the snow and making snowmen, we were asked to send the children in with carrots so they could make snowmen and have a competition.

I think I got lucky on the schools front, they're an outstanding ofsted, and every afternoon, the headmistress is at the school gate saying goodbye to the children - who she knows each by name. The kids love her!

Sorry I don't see the slightest threat in the letter. It makes clear where everyone stands and the fact many fines have already been issued.

If you are in the process of complaining about a bullying problem then the school has a paper trail to highlight your complaints etc However parents have used non evidenced complaints of bullying that have never been raised with anyone as a problem.

If you don't complain or report continued bullying in writing how can the problem be addressed.
The Police/ewo/other often stop children of school age with parents to check why they are not in school. Many are simply shopping because they felt like it and others do use the bullying excuse. The Police do follow up with the school.

Its a bit sterile but information based official letters are supposed to be.

Anyhow:

1. You cannot just keep your kids off school for 'alleged bullying' (a phrase by the way which may suggest that either in this case or generally, schools may hold a different view to dissenting parents).

Of course schools should investigate and sanction bullying. But I used to be the very teacher in charge of such investigations - and they are very time consuming and often very complex- half my time I was Lt Bloomin Columbo!

And whatever the school verdict usually ALL parents concerned are unhappy and aggrieved because they all believe their little treasures. Either we are too hard or too soft or unfair or whatever!

So the parent sometimes have to show some compromise. Now if a parent feels they simply are unable to send their child to school due to danger then they have to provide an alternative education or change school and officially take them off the school roll.

And if you dont do that you WILL get threatened with prosecution and if not heeded WILL get prosecuted- I mean what did you expect to happen?.

2. I can see why they would ban handstands; a. risk of head injury, b. knickers on show at a co-ed school c, risk of being sued by parents.

Yeah its a bit of a fun killer but its not like the school has suddenly turned the playground into a military barracks!- they can still play the rest of their many games. And if some girls are so desperate to do hand stands they can do them at the park or at home can't they? Perspective svp?

But I did love the quote about 'robbing them of their childhood'- made me hoot with mirth.

the school doesn't make the law but has to follow it. when you sign your child up to attend school you have to abide by the rules. the letter is stating the rules on attendance and outlining what will happen if the rules are not followed.

also i would note the use of the word alleged with regards to bullying. i would guess that it is used as an excuse often enough but not actually reported. if a child was having a genuine problem with bullying i would guess the school would be more likely to work with them as would any person of authority investigating their absence from school.

Sounds like a way of making more money for the school in fines. Many people cannot afford to put food on the table or uniform on the child's back so how are they to afford fines.

Yes I agree there needs to be a change in culture amongst some to have a work ethic and attend school/work whenever fit enough to do so.

But there needs to be a balance for exceptional circumstances. If the child is little and the mother is the only person able to take them to school and the parent is really ill and cannot leave the house what are you meant to do?

Sounds like a way of making more money for the school in fines. Many people cannot afford to put food on the table or uniform on the child's back so how are they to afford fines.

Yes I agree there needs to be a change in culture amongst some to have a work ethic and attend school/work whenever fit enough to do so.

But there needs to be a balance for exceptional circumstances. If the child is little and the mother is the only person able to take them to school and the parent is really ill and cannot leave the house what are you meant to do?

If its only now and again its ok.
But if regular parental illness the parent contacts the school and social services to consider solutions.
If its a single parent with a chronic illness so severe she cannot take her child to school there are wider issues of safeguarding and childcare anyway.

But children have a right to go to school.
And its unfair if a child is regularly denied school due to parental illness.

Schools and LEAs only prosecute when parental communications are either unhelpful or non existent and its the only way to get the kids into school.